Faith Chepng’etich

World 1500m Champion Faith Chepngetich and World 1500m silver medallist Timothy Cheruiyot will headline the Athletics Kenya Sotik Cross Country Meeting that will be held on Saturday in Bomet County.

The 23 year-old who is also the Olympic 1500m Champion is a former world junior cross country and will be competing in 10km senior women category.

In the senior men race Cheruiyot will be making an appearance as he seeks to taste his mental fitness and he clashes with the 2013 World Cross Country Champion Japhet Korir in the second meeting of Athletics Kenya cross country championships in the South Rift region

Africa Junior Cross Country champion Miriam Cherop will be defending her crown as she faces Immaculate Chepkirui.

Chepkirui won silver in 3000m U18 World Championships staged in Nairobi this year. The two are tipped to go all the way to Algeria next year based on their current form.

World U18 boys 2000m champions Leonard Bett will be looking for the Junior Men crown.

Olympics and World 3000m steeplechase champion Conseslus Kipruto is eyeing the Isaiah Kiplagat Memorial Ndalat Gaa Cross Country title in Nandi slated for October 14.

Kipruto who won the Olympic and world water, hurdle and jump race at the Rio Olympic Games and Worlds in London by dethroning two times Olympic champion Ezekiel Kemboi will compete in the 12km race in ninth edition of Ndalat Gaa.

“I want to compete in the race competitively as i prepare for the new season. I dare other competitors to come and take on me,” said Kipruto.

Kipruto made his debut at the Ndalat Gaa Kids cross country in 2010 and was placed in fourth place in the 4km race before running in the 8km competition the following year where he was placed second.

Other athletes who horned their skills through Ndalat Gaa are former World and Olympics women’s marathon silver medalist Prisca Jeptoo who won in the first edition before moving on to be a world beater.

Olympic 1500m champion Faith Chepngetich who has won the event six times in a row, World junior bronze medalist Caroline Chepkoech among others were discovered through Ndalat Gaa.

The event, entering its ninth year, will be held at Ndalat Gaa Girls High School, inside the newly gazetted Ndalat Gaa pre-historic site was sponsored by Safaricom (Sh2 million), Nandi County Government, Kass Media Group, Skyward with air tickets for winners, New KCC, Kenya Seed, Kosigat Tea Estate’s Mama Chai brand and Mosop Constituency Development Fund (CDF).

Kenya’s Geoffrey Kamworor successfully defended his World Cross Country title that was held on Sunday (27) at the famous Kololo Independence Ground in Kampala, Uganda.

Kamworor cut the tape in a time of 28:24 to become the first man to win back to back titles in 11 years .

Having run among the first group through the first three laps , Kamworor maintained his cool even after Ugandan flower boy Joshua Cheptegei showed flashes of dethroning him when he opened an 11 seconds lead in the third lap.

Powered on by the partisan home crowds, Cheptegi looked like he was on the verge of replicating his junior compatriot Kiplimo who won the country’s gold in the junior men’s race.

But his speed and poor timing of the power kick overturned to be unfair to his ambition as he faded in the final circuit as he struggled to even be on his feet. This allowed Kamworor an easy zoom past the struggling Ugandan much to the disappointment of the home fans who had hoped for their first gold of the seniors mostly dominated by Kenya and Ethiopia.

Kamworor was closely followed in second place by compatriot Leonard Barsoton who posted 28:36 while Ethiopia’s Abadi Hadis was third ( 28:43.)

Timothy Toroitich was the first Ugandan to cross the finish line placed in 9th place with a time of 29:10 while Joshua Cheptegei came a distant 30th.

The Kenya Cross Country team that will feature at World Cross Country Championships in Kampala Uganda, is in training camp in Kigari Teachers Training College in Embu being sharpened under the guidance of the head coach Juma Ndiwa.

But the world should be worried of of the six names that have been selected in the team given that Kenya have proved over the time that they are the best when it comes to the short and middle distance races.

Leonard Barsoton

He is the 2014 Africa Cross Country Champion the race e won at the same venue that will be used for the World Cross Championships. During the Kenya National team selections at the Uhuru Garden he beat off the current world Cross Champion Geoffrey Kamworor and the 2017 Rak Half Marathon champion Bedan Karoki.

After claiming the first position at the trials he, “it feels great to beat to win this race after being second three times behind Kamworor and Karoki and its gives me hope that am capable of winning the World title in Uganda”.

Geoffrey Kamworor

Kamworor is the defending champion of world Cross Country Championships and also the World Half Marathon record holder. He was beaten to second place but has vowed to retain his title given that he has one month to prepare before the Championships in Uganda.

Kamworor who goes to the race having taken the title in 2013 event held in Guiyang, China is upbeat of taking the second to his name.

He wants to repeat in what he has already done at IAAF world half marathon championships where he won two times in a row. He won in 2014 and defended his title in 2016.

Leonard Komon

Komon is the current world record holder in the 10km and 15 km road races. His half marathon time of 59.14 in Berlin is the fastest debut half marathon of all time. He has been missing in action for a while due to a scary injury but proved his presence back at the National team selection where he finished in fifth place.

Irene Cheptai

Cheptai who is the 2008 silver medalist at the World Cross Country Championships junior race lost to Genzebe Dibaba in a sprint finish.

During the team selection at the Uhuru Garden, she beat off a strong field of world class women including the defending champion of World Cross Alice Aprot and 1500m Rio Olympic gold medalist Faith Chepngetich.

The 25 year old finished tenth in 2013, seventh in both 2014 and 2015 then missing out in 2016. After enduring for three attempt she finally won the crown on her fourth attempt.

I didn’t expect to win the race putting in mind the field had the great runners but am grateful I won it this time round,” she said after the winning the 10km senior women race.

Faith Chepngetich

She is the 1500m Rio Gold medalist and was placed third during the nationals cross country trials.

The 23 years old is also the Commonwealth champion having won the gold medal at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland. She won the gold medal at the 2011 World Youth Championships in Athletics, and a gold medal the next year at the 2012 World Junior Championships in Athletics.

Chepngetich has seven gold medals in total and one silver under her name.

Alice Aprot

She is the All Africa Games gold medallist in the 10,000 m and gold medalist at the 2014 African Cross Country Championships that were held at Kololo grounds in KampalaUganda.

During the national trials she finished fourth behind Irene Cheptai, Lillian Kasait and Faith Chepngetich respectively.

Agnes Tirop

She is the defending champion of the African Cross Country and the World Cross Country Championships.Tirop became the second-youngest ever gold medallist in the women’s race after Zola Budd of South Africa now aged 50 years.

The 21 years old is also the African Cross Country Champion.

During the nationals trials, the 21 years old was beaten to fifth place. She has two silvers under her name.

Kenya’s National team to the World Cross Cross Country Championships have officially started their training in readiness for the Cross Country Championships to be staged at the famous Kololo ceremonial grounds on 26th March in Kampala, Uganda.

Under the tutelage of Head Coach Wycliffe Ndiwa they were waiting on the late comers to enable them have a unified training programme as the focus turns on winning both individual and team titles in Uganda.

“The training started started yesterday and we kicked off the training on murram and then embarked on diagonals as we officially started our training,” said Ndiwa, whose team is camping at the Kigari Teachers Training College.

“The motivation at the camp is high and the athletes are responding on well, Ndiwa said.

“Once we got here, the athletes picked on Leonard Komon and Faith Chepngetich to be their tentative leaders but the official athletes’ representatives will be known at Wednesday’s meeting,” he observed.

The camp has been boosted by the presence of experienced runners such as Geoffrey Kamworor, Asbel Kiprop and Alice Aprot, we would integrate the cross country and relay teams for training purposes. We have faith in our team that we are going to do better,” Ndiwa concluded.

The Athletics Kenya Gala awards lived up to its expectations when they held their 2016 AK Golden Gala that was held at Panari Hotel in Nairobi.

The chief guest of honor was President of the confederation of African Athletics, Kalkaba Malboum, who was full of praise to kenyan athlete of their perfomance in every major race they participate in.

“Cheating should never be allowed in this game, run clean and win clean but if you chose to cheat we will get you,” Maboum warned.

“The IAAF President Sebastian Coe was supposed to be in attendance but due to tight schedule he couldn’t make it here tonight but he send me with a message of goodwill, that he is happy and IAAF will continue supporting Kenya in its endavours,” he concluded.

Olympic marathon champion and London Marathon winner Eliud Kipchoge was named the 2016 Male athlete of the year while the women award went to Olympic 5000m gold Champion Vivian Cheruiyot.

Kipchoge who recently won the IAAF male marathoner athlete of the year beat a strong field of athletes that included Double Olympic chmapion David Rudisha and Conseslus Kipruto to emerge the winner.

Vivian Cheruiyot who beat Almaz Ayana the 10000m world record holder in Rio Brazil was full of joy as he emerged the best after being pooled together with the Rio Olympic gold medalist and Ak female marathoner of the year Jemimah Sumgong and Ak middle distance winner Faith Chepngetich.

Elated Kipchoge was full of joy as he said after receiving his award, “running is a journey that has taught me you must perservere to achieve greatness in life. Today am the happiest of them all because it has taken me 13 years of running to get this award”

My husband Moses Kiplagat Kipkurui and our son Allan Kiplagat been patient with me for long in my ups and downs,” said Cheruiyot. “I just want to thank Kenyans for their moral support and God for his blessings.” She concluded.

The 9th edition of Ndalat Gaa Cross country will be held on 15th October. The official launch was at the Athletics Kenya head office, Riadha House.

The race was the brain child of the late Athletics Kenya President Isaiah Kiplagat which he started eight years ago.

Athletics Kenya Central Rift Chairman Abraham Mutai said “this year’s race is bigger than the previous races and the participants expected are more 5,000.”

The winners of senior races will get Kshs 40,000, veterans Kshs 15,000 but Mutai said all top 20 finishers will get something.

The race ambassador Olympic 3000m steeplechase Conseslus Kipruto said he will be part of the race because he is also the product of Ndalat Gaa. “My first cross country that I ever ran was here and am so proud to be associated with this great event.”

Nicodemus Kipkirui and Caroline Chepkoech will be defending the men and women crowns they took last year.

“We have partnered with Kimbilio Hospice who cares about the cancer patients and we are pleased to say that it’s the biggest cancer institution in Kenya and is based in Kipkaren near Webuye”, said Joel Sawe the CEO.

The president of Athletics Kenya Jackson Tuwei said that, “there are individuals who are holding athletics event without the AK certificate, we warn them and the sponsors who are part of these races to desist from the exercise and seek the office clearance.”

The race has been put into categories, 7- 12 years, 13 – 18 years, Senior Men and Women and the last category is the veterans.

The deputy governor of Nandi County Dominic Biwott said, “We are happy for this course that has given us an identity in the country.

We are committed to ensure that the event remains the most popular in the country and we will contribute 1.2 million towards the event, offer ambulance services and close all roads the race will use.”

The Nandi women representative Hon. Zipporah Kering also pledged Kshs 500,000 towards the event. She said athletics made her who she is today, “ through athletics I have grown the ladders and as you can see am a member of parliament” she said.

Change of Name

This is the last time the race will be called Ndalat Gaa cross country, we will change the name from next season to honor our Former Athletics Kenya President the late Isaac Kiplagat, said the Mutai.

Products of Ndalat Gaa

Ndalat Gaa cross Country has produced some of the finest athletes ruling the world they include, Eliud Kipchoge the London Marathon and Olympic Champion gold medalist, Stanley Biwott, Prisca Cheptoo,Agnes Tirop and Faith Chepngetich the Olympic 1500m gold Medalist who has won the 4k in four season consecutively

Kenyans shine in the 3000m SC heats on Saturday evening Kenya trio of Hyvin Kiyeng, Beatrice Chepkoech and Lydia qualified for the womens 3000 metres steeplechase final where they stand a high chance of clinching a gold medal.

Faith Chepng’etich and Violah Lagat made it to the semi finals of the 1500metres while all 3 Kenyan sprinters in the 400 metres bowed out of the heats.

Kenya’s only threat is the 19 year old Kenyan born but now plying her trade for Bahrain is Ruth Jebet, the fastest woman in this event so far this year and the second-fastest ever, ran away from the first heat of the women’s steeplechase to win in a remarkable 9:12.62, running alone from halfway into the race.